Safety swim or safety float emergency float

ABSTRACT

An emergency water safety device designed primarily for protection of individual persons on or in the water, the device consisting of a capsule to be worn by a swimmer, the capsule containing an inflatable bladder and compressed gas cylinder, a pull on the outside of the capsule being operable by a swimmer when in emergency of drowning, the pull activating a mechanism that releases the gas into the bladder which when inflated opens the capsule so to float upon the water.

United States Patent [191 [111 3,828,381 Prager Aug. 13, 1974 SAFETY SWIM OR SAFETY FLOAT EMERGENCY FLOAT [76] Inventor: Irwin D. Prager, 34 Malone Ave.,

Staten Island, NY. l0306 [22] Filed: Feb. 6, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 330,038

[52] U.S. Cl. 9/316 [51] Int. Cl. B63c 9/16 [58] Field of Search 9/311-328, 9/329; 222/3, 5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,81 L847 6/1931 Hellrich 9/319 3,355.751 12/1967 McGroarty 9/323 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Sauberer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Carl Miller [57] ABSTRACT An emergency water safety device designed primarily for protection of individual persons on or in the water, the device consisting of a capsule to be worn by a swimmer, the capsule containing an inflatable bladder and compressed gas cylinder, a pull on the outside of the capsule being operable by a swimmer when in emergency of drowning, the pull activating a mechanism that releases the gas into the bladder which when inflated opens the capsule so to float upon the water.

3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENT'ED AUG 1 arm SAFETY SWIM OR SAFETY FLOAT EMERGENCY FLOAT This invention relates generally to life saving equipment.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a safety swim capsule for saving a persons life from drowning .in water, without the need of aid from another person.

Another object is to provide a safety swim capsule which is small in size and light in weight so that it does not hinder a person in mobility within or upon a water surface when swimming.

Other objects are to provide a safety swim or safety float emergency float which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from the following specification, it being understood that modifications variations, and adaptations may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the protective capsule shown closed.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the cartridge and bladder refill.

FIG. 3 is a detail side view showing the puncture mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the protective capsule shown opened.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the protective capsule.

FIG. 6 is a side view thereof showing certain details.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the inflated raft with the opened protective capsule.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the roller or ball bearing.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a slide arm.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 represents a safety swim capsule assembly according to te present invention wherein the same comprises a protective capsule 11 consisting of two halves 12 and I3 pivotally attached together at closed position in a hinge l4, and which when in a pivoted closed position enclose a thin walled bladder 15 which, in turn, encloses a gas cartridge 16 having a puncture mechanism 17 at its one end.

One of the halves 12 has a pull strap 18 near the end away from the hinge, and the other half 13 has a belt loop 19 along its side to which a pin 20 is tethered. Near the hinge, an activating arm tightening knob 21 is located, the knob being attached to a slide arm 22 which is movable between a locked position and an open position. The tip of the slide arm has a roller 23 so to not damage the bladder during operation, when the bladder is inflated and capsule is opened. A relatively long length of safety cord 24 is attached at its one end to the bladder, and the other end of the safety cord is attached to the inner side of capsule half 13.

The puncture mechanism 17 includes a puncture pin 25 that includes a pin shaft 26 and pin head 27. The pin shaft is fitted through a puncture cap 29 that is screw threaded on the end of the cartridge. There are two gas escape holes 28 through the protection cap 29. The pin head is positioned against the inner surface of one end of the bladder 15 as shown in FIG. 2 where it can easily be pushed so the pin punctures the gas seal 30 in operative use, and allow the gas to escape from the cartridge into the bladder so the bladder inflates as shown in FIG. 7 so to form a life raft or life preserver 31.

In operative use the pull 18 conveniently located outside the capsule for instant emergency use, operates the slide arm 22 which operates the pin 25 to puncture the seal so that gas inflates the bladder, thus opening the capsule to float out. The safety cord from the capsule worn by a person prevents the inflated bladder to get away from the person so he can get to it.

The operation of the device in greater detail is as follows:

Capsule is attached by belt or pin to person. Upon emergency the pull is pulled away from body thus opening ,door of capsule.

As door opens, the lever action of slide arm pushes roller upward against puncture pin and punctures cartridge seal.

When cartridge is punctured the escaping gas flows through gas escape holes into bladder, thus inflating bladder. Puncture pin head acts to warm gas so as not to freeze rubber bladder.

As bladder is being inflated, it ejects out of protective capsule and floats to top of water. Bladder is attached to protective capsule by a safety string so as not to escape from person wearing device. Protective capsule remains on person. Cartridge and bladder refill is replaceable after use, by loosening tightening knob and sliding slide arm to open position and inserting the cartridge and bladder refill. The slide arm is then pushed to closed position and locked in by tightening knob. Capsule is ready for reuse. Gas used in cartridge is difluoro dicloro methane or any other inert suitable gas for proper bladder displacement.

While certain novel features of my invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a safety swim capsule, the combination of a capsule containing a bladder and a compressed gas cartridge fitted with a puncture mechanism so to inflate said bladder, said capsule being comprised of two halves hinged together so that said capsule opens up to release said bladder when inflated in order to float upon a water, said capsule including a slide arm on its bottom side and an emergency pull on its top side for operation by a swimmer in time of danger, said slide arm operating said puncture mechanism, and said slide arm having at its tip a roller so to not damage said bladder while said bladder is being filled and causing said capsule to be opened up.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein a tethering cord is secured between said bladder and said capsule, so that said bladder when inflated will not float cartridge and bladder. 

1. In a safety swim capsule, the combination of a capsule containing a bladder and a compressed gas cartridge fitted with a puncture mechanism so to inflate said bladder, said capsule being comprised of two halves hinged together so that said capsule opens up to release said bladder when inflated in order to float upon a water, said capsule including a slide arm on its bottom side and an emergency pull on its top side for operation by a swimmer in time of danger, said slide arm operating said puncture mechanism, and said slide arm having at its tip a roller so to not damage said bladder while said bladder is being filled and causing said capsule to be opened up.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein a tethering cord is secured between said bladder and said capsule, so that said bladder when inflated will not float away from a swimmer wearing said capsule.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, a bladder and cartridge refill wherein said bladder inflates internally by a cartridge so there are no connectors from cartridge to bladder, thereby insuring no leaks between cartridge and bladder. 